Over 1 ton of marijuana seized in southeastern Turkey

ANKARA

Turkish security forces seized 1,016 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of marijuana during narco-terror operations in southeastern Turkey, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.

Local gendarmerie forces carried out the Yildirim-7 operations in rural areas of Lice, Diyarbakir.

According to the statement by the ministry, some 45 kg (90 Ibs) of confiscated drug was skunk weed. Vast amount of food items and life-sustaining supplies were also seized in two shelters used by the terrorists, it added.

Turkish authorities have been confiscating narcotics shipments owned or operated by the terrorist PKK since the 1980s, with the country seizing over 40 tons of marijuana in 2019 alone.

Turkey’s ongoing crackdown on drugs has helped it fight narco-terrorism, or profits from the illegal drug trade funding terrorist groups such as the PKK.

Anti-terror Operation Yildirim-7, launched on Aug. 26 with as many as 1,495 security personnel, aims at completely eliminating the PKK separatist terror group and neutralizing all terrorists hiding out in the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

​​​​​​​* Writing by Ahmet Gencturk